By Chinyere Anyanwu
Olam Agri in Nigeria has received the Federal Government’s commendation for its significant investment in boosting agricultural output and growth in the country.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, commended the company during his inspection of its integrated Rice Farm and Mill in Nasarawa State recently. The visit followed a recent courtesy call on the minister and the vice president by Olam Agri’s top management, where the company expressed interest in expanding its partnership with the Federal Government to enhance agricultural productivity further.
The minister, who visited the Olam Agri Rice Farm in the company of Nasarawa State Deputy Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Akabe and a team of technical experts, used the occasion to flag off Olam Agri’s dry season rice harvest.
He commented on his satisfaction with the company’s innovative approach to raising agricultural productivity, saying, “I was particularly impressed by Olam’s commitment to leveraging mechanisation and technology-driven farming methods across its 13,500-hectare fully integrated rice farming operations. With a paddy milling capacity of 210,000 metric tonnes, it has demonstrated significant strides in agricultural productivity. Over 4,000 hectares have been cultivated, yielding an impressive 4.3 tonnes of rice per hectare.”
The minister further commended Olam Agri’s commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), citing its engagement with over 35,000 out-growers, investment in scholarships for youths, provision of learning infrastructure, hiring of qualified teachers to deliver academic excellence across the communities and its paid flood response and support for at least 3,523 residents from 10 different communities.
As part of its impressive social investment, the business also provided solar lights for six host communities – Rukubi, Achepe, Obendo, Olegokpa, Ijiwo and Ondori. It constructed and rehabilitated access roads to the villages. One of the roads constructed and rehabilitated by the business is the 9km Olegokpa – Achepe – Obendo Road.
Speaking about the facility tour, Anil Nair, Country Head & Managing Director of Olam Agri in Nigeria, thanked the minister and his team of experts. He said, “we are thrilled by the minister’s visit to our Rice Farm and mill. This visit has reinforced our support for the Nigerian government’s renewed hope agenda and our readiness to engage with critical agricultural stakeholders to keep driving productivity and sustainable growth.
“As a business, we prioritise captive supply through large-scale farming practices. In the rice value chain, for instance, we continue to invest in R&D to scale the introduction of germplasm as part of a breeding programme targeted at improving the yield potential of the current seed varieties while developing new varieties which adapted well to local soil and weather conditions and can withstand major environmental threats. We maintain stringent quality control while fostering an out-growers model that provides preferential access to seeds, training and rates for many farmers while benefiting households, communities, cooperatives and women. This visit will further deepen our partnership with the Federal Government and impact the investment landscape,” he added.